Episodes
Ivan's Oprichniki: The Black Riders of Terror
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the world of the oprichniki, the black-clad horsemen who became Ivan the Terrible's instrument of terror. We explore their origins in the oprichnina, their distinctive uniforms of black robes and dog heads, and their brutal campaigns against the boyars and cities like Novgorod. We discuss the psychology of the oprichniki, their loyalty to the tsar, and the fear they instilled across Muscovy. We also look at key figures like Malyuta Skuratov, the…
Ivan the Terrible's Son: The Fatal Blow and the Dynasty's End
In 1581, Ivan the Terrible struck his son and heir, Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich, in a fit of rage, setting off a chain of events that would end the Rurikid dynasty and plunge Russia into the Time of Troubles. This episode untangles the accounts of that fatal blow—from the chronicles to the reports of foreign envoys like Antonio Possevino—and asks whether it was a moment of madness or the culmination of a lifelong pattern of violence. We explore the tsarevich's role in his father's court, the…
Ivan the Terrible's Gospel: The Tsar's Sacred Text
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's personal Gospel manuscript—an illuminated masterpiece that reveals the tsar's complex faith, political ambitions, and artistic patronage. Discover how this sacred text, created in the 1560s, reflects Ivan's self-image as a divinely appointed ruler, his connections to the Byzantine legacy, and his role as a patron of Russian art. The episode unpacks the manuscript's intricate miniatures, its uses in court ceremonies…
Ivan the Terrible's Bell: The Tsar's Lost Voice
In 1555, Ivan IV commissioned a bronze bell so vast that casting it became a national saga. This episode follows the bell's journey from the foundry pits of Moscow to the belfry of the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral, where its voice — the deep, resonant tone Muscovites called 'the tsar's thunder' — rang out over coronations, sieges, and the Oprichnina's darkest days. We explore the lost-wax technique that made it possible, the master founder who risked his life to cast it, and the political…
Ivan the Terrible's Falconers: The Tsar's Sky Hunters
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of Ivan the Terrible's falconry — the elaborate art of hunting with birds of prey that was both a royal passion and a political tool. They discuss the role of the sokolniki, the tsar's elite falconers, and the prized gyrfalcons and peregrines that symbolized power. The conversation covers the training techniques, the lavish ceremonies at Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, and how falconry intertwined with the oprichnina, as Ivan used the hunt to reward…
Ivan's Falconry: The Tsar's Hunt for Power
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna soar into the world of Ivan the Terrible's falconry — a passion that was as much about politics as it was about sport. From the gyrfalcons of the White Sea coast to the hunting grounds of Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, they explore how Ivan used the hunt to project power, reward loyalty, and even punish enemies. Along the way, they uncover the role of the sokolniki (falconers) in the tsar's court, the symbolism of the falcon in Russian heraldry, and…
Ivan's Last Will: The Tsar Who Wrote His Own Epitaph
In 1572, Ivan the Terrible sat down and wrote his own will—a sprawling, feverish document that survives to this day. It's a window into the mind of a man who called himself 'the humble Ivan' while commanding one of the most brutal regimes in history. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the will's strange mix of pious confession, political calculation, and raw fear. They trace its creation in the shadow of the oprichnina, its provisions for his sons, and its grim predictions for the future…
The Wooden Kremlin: Ivan's Fortress Before Stone
Before the red-brick Kremlin we know today, Moscow's fortress was a living, rebuilding organism of timber — a fire-prone, ever-changing structure that shaped Ivan IV's childhood and his later paranoia. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the wooden Kremlin's origins from Ivan Kalita's oak walls to the white-stone towers of Dmitry Donskoy, and how the great fires of 1547 — the ones that nearly killed the young tsar — forced a permanent shift to brick and stone. They explore the daily life…
Ivan the Terrible's Postal System: The Yam and the Roads of Muscovy
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna trace the veins of Ivan the Terrible's realm: the yam, a postal and waystation network that stretched from Moscow to the frontiers. They explore how the tsar, in the 1550s, overhauled this system, turning a patchwork of horse relays into a tool of centralization and control. From the Grand Road to Kazan, newly conquered in 1552, to the steppe routes where Crimean raiders lurked, the yam carried news, tribute, and terror. Lucas tells of the…
Ivan's Kazan Campaign: The Siege That Built an Empire
In 1552, Ivan the Terrible did what no Muscovite ruler had managed before: he took Kazan, the Tatar capital on the Volga. This episode digs into the siege itself — the wooden fortress built overnight, the tunnels under the walls, the gunpowder that broke the gate — and what the victory actually meant. Lucas and Luna talk about the role of the streltsy, the engineering that surprised everyone, and how Kazan's fall reshaped Russia's identity from a regional power to a would-be empire. They also…
Ivan's Postovnik: Piety, Famine, and the Tsar's Holy Wars
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's deeply personal religious practices, from his rigorous fasting rituals to his construction of a new Jerusalem in the wilderness. They discuss how the tsar's piety was both a genuine expression of faith and a political tool, examining the postovnik, his correspondence with Prince Kurbsky, and the founding of the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda. The conversation also touches on the 1560s famine, which Ivan interpreted as divine punishment, and…
Ivan's Grand Embassy to England: The Tsar Who Proposed to Elizabeth
In 1567, Ivan the Terrible sent a remarkable letter to Queen Elizabeth I — a secret proposal for a mutual defense pact, a possible marriage to her cousin Lady Mary Hastings, and even an offer of asylum in Moscow. This episode explores the strange and often farcical diplomatic dance between the Tsardom of Muscovy and Tudor England. We follow the English envoy Anthony Jenkinson through the Kremlin's gilded halls, decode Ivan's furious letters when he suspected Elizabeth was stalling, and reveal…
Ivan's Counter-Reformation: The Church Council of 1551
Before the oprichnina, before the terror, Ivan IV tried to reform the Russian Church. In 1551, he summoned a hundred churchmen to Moscow for the Stoglav Council — a hundred chapters of rules that touched everything from icon painting to monastery land. Lucas and Luna dig into how Ivan used the council to tighten his grip on the Church, why he clashed with Metropolitan Macarius over monastic wealth, and how the council's rulings on everything from beard-trimming to double-fingered crosses…
Ivan's English Doctor: The Strange Stay of Ralph Standish
In the 1560s, as Ivan IV's Russia grew more isolated, an English physician named Ralph Standish arrived in Moscow with the Muscovy Company, only to find himself caught in the tsar's web of suspicion. This episode follows Standish's journey from London to the Kremlin, his service at the tsar's court during the first years of the oprichnina, and his desperate flight from a ruler who trusted no one. We explore the world of foreign doctors in Muscovy, the dangerous politics of medicine at Ivan's…
Ivan the Terrible's Marriage Market: Brides of Moscow
In 1547, Ivan IV shocked the boyars by summoning over a thousand noble maidens to Moscow for a bride show. This episode explores the marriage market that produced his first tsaritsa, Anastasia Romanovna, and later his controversial seventh marriage. We discuss the ritual of the bride show, the political maneuvering of the Zakharyin family, the role of the tsaritsa in Muscovite court life, and how Ivan's desperate search for a wife after Anastasia's death led to marriages that scandalized the…
Ivan the Terrible and the Streltsy: Russia's First Standing Army
In this two-hundredth episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Ivan IV built Russia's first standing army—the streltsy. From their origins in the 1550 siege of Kazan to their role in the Livonian War, the streltsy were a revolutionary force: musketeers paid in cash and land, loyal directly to the tsar rather than the boyars. We meet their first commander, Ivan Cheremisinov, and trace their evolution through the oprichnina and beyond, ending with their suppression under Peter the Great in 1698. Along…
Ivan the Terrible and the English Merchant Adventurers
In 1553, three English ships set out to find a northeast passage to China. Only one survived the Arctic winter, landing in the White Sea near present-day Arkhangelsk. Its captain, Richard Chancellor, made his way to Moscow and met Ivan the Terrible. This chance encounter opened a century of trade between England and Russia — and gave Ivan Western allies, armaments, and even a potential wife in Lady Mary Hastings. Lucas and Luna explore the lives of the merchant adventurers, the Russian response…
Ivan's War on Novgorod: The Massacre of 1570
In 1570, Ivan the Terrible turned his fury on Novgorod, the wealthy trading city that had once resisted Moscow's grip. This episode examines the brutal campaign that followed a false accusation of treason. Lucas and Luna piece together the evidence from chronicles, foreign accounts, and archaeological digs to separate fact from propaganda. They explore the city's medieval independence, its rivalry with Moscow, the role of the oprichniki, and the devastating sack that killed thousands. With…
Ivan's Library: The Lost Books of Moscow
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna dive into one of the most tantalizing mysteries of Ivan the Terrible's reign: the legendary lost library of the Muscovite tsars. Said to contain ancient Greek and Latin manuscripts, including works by Aristotle and other classical authors, the library vanished after Ivan's death, and its whereabouts have puzzled historians and treasure hunters for centuries. Lucas traces the collection's origins to Byzantine princess Sophia Palaiologina, who…
Ivan the Terrible's Firearms: The Army That Changed Russia
In 1552, Ivan the Terrible's army stormed Kazan with a weapon that would transform Muscovy into an empire: the arquebus, or pishchal. This episode follows the rise of Russia's first professional infantry — the streltsy — from their creation in the 1550s to their role in the brutal Livonian War and the defense against Crimean raids. We explore how Ivan's gunners, armed with matchlock muskets and supported by a new artillery train, shattered the old steppe cavalry and forced even the Ottoman…
Ivan the Terrible's Secret Archive: The Tsar's Paper Trail
In 1564, Ivan the Terrible vanished from Moscow, leaving behind a throne, a city in turmoil, and a trail of cryptic letters that would redefine tsarist power. This episode follows the tsar's infamous retreat to Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, where he drafted his shocking abdication and the 'division of the land' that would unleash the oprichnina. We trace the crafty chess moves—the boyar delegation's desperate plea, the staged return, the creation of a separate 'sovereign's court'—that transformed…
The Great Abatis Line: Ivan's Forest Wall Against the Steppe
Before the Kremlin walls were built, Ivan the Terrible ordered a different kind of fortification: a thousand-kilometer line of felled trees, earthen ramparts, and hidden forts stretching across the southern steppe. This episode follows the creation of the Great Abatis Line in the 1550s and 1560s, a massive engineering project that aimed to stop Crimean Tatar raids once and for all. We explore the technology of abatis—felled trees with sharpened branches pointing toward the enemy—and the network…
Ivan's Oprichnina Terror: The Black Guard
In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into Ivan the Terrible's oprichnina—the shadow state that terrorized Russia from 1565 to 1572. They explore its origins in Ivan's sudden abdication and return, the creation of the black-robed oprichniki with their dog's head and broom emblems, and the reign of terror led by Malyuta Skuratov. The conversation covers the division of Russia into the zemshchina and oprichnina, the brutal purges of the boyars, the infamous Novgorod massacre of 1570, and the…
Ivan the Terrible's Postovnik Fasting Rituals: The Tsar's Inner Piety
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known side of Ivan the Terrible: his intense personal devotion and the strict fasting rituals he observed, known as postovnik. They discuss how Ivan's religious practices shaped his rule, from his daily attendance at church services to his dramatic penance after the death of his son. Along the way, they touch on the influence of Metropolitan Macarius, the Stoglav Council's reforms, and the legend of Ivan's iron-tipped staff.…
Ivan's Great Famine: The Fires and Food Crisis of the 1560s
In the autumn of 1568, with a failed Livonian campaign behind him and a country scarred by the oprichnina, Ivan the Terrible faced a catastrophe that would kill tens of thousands: a great famine. This episode unpacks the unusually cold winters and crop failures that gripped Muscovy, the unprecedented state responses — from church councils and grain confiscations to the tsar's own controversial orders — and the long-term damage to Russia's economy and social fabric. We trace the timeline from…
Ivan's Death and the Fate of His Dynasty
In this episode, we explore the final years of Ivan the Terrible's reign and the chaotic succession that followed his death in 1584. We look at the mysterious circumstances of his demise, the reign of his son Feodor, the rise of Boris Godunov, and the beginning of the Time of Troubles. We also touch on the death of Tsarevich Ivan, the impact of the Livonian War, and the economic and social crises that plagued Muscovy. Through the eyes of contemporaries like Jerome Horsey and Antonio Possevino…
Siege of Pskov 1581: Ivan's Last Battle
In 1581, as Ivan the Terrible's Livonian War ground toward its bitter end, the Polish-Lithuanian king Stephen Báthory marched on Pskov, one of Russia's mightiest fortresses. This episode takes you inside the five-month siege that became a turning point for the Tsardom of Muscovy. We explore the defenses led by Prince Ivan Shuisky, the brutal winter conditions, the role of papal legate Antonio Possevino, and the eventual Truce of Yam-Zapolsky that cost Ivan his Baltic ambitions. With vivid…
Ivan the Terrible's Son: The Murder That Shook Russia
In 1581, Ivan the Terrible struck his son and heir, Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich, with a staff in a fit of rage, leading to the young man's death three days later. This episode explores the murky details of that fateful encounter at Alexandrovskaya Sloboda: was it a calculated act or a tragic accident? Lucas and Luna sift through the foreign accounts of Jerome Horsey and Antonio Possevino, the role of the tsar's daughter-in-law Yelena Sheremeteva, and the political fallout that paved the way for…
Ivan the Terrible and the Nogai Horde: Steppe Diplomacy
After conquering Kazan and Astrakhan, Ivan IV faced a new challenge: the powerful Nogai Horde, a nomadic confederation controlling the Caspian steppes. This episode explores Ivan's diplomatic dance with the Nogai mirzas—Ismail, Yusuf, and others—through embassies, trade, and rivalry. We trace how Ivan managed to secure the Volga route and incorporate former enemies into his Tsardom, while the Nogai's internal divisions shaped their fate. From the exchange of sumptuous gifts to the slave markets…
Anastasia Romanovna The Tsaritsa Who Held Ivan Together
Before the terror, the oprichnina, and the madness, Ivan IV had one steadying force: his first wife, Anastasia Romanovna. In this episode, we trace her quiet but profound influence on the young tsar — from her role in the early reforms of the Chosen Council to her patronage of the church and her famous correspondence with her husband. We explore the 1560 poisoning rumors, the autopsy evidence that suggests something more mundane, and the psychological unraveling that followed her death. Along…
Siege of Polotsk 1563 Ivan's Livonian Victory
In 1563, Ivan the Terrible personally led a massive army to capture Polotsk, a key Lithuanian fortress on the Dvina River. This episode dives into the siege itself — the eighteen cannon batteries, the Streltsy who overran the walls, and the boyars who wavered — and what the victory meant for the Livonian War. We explore Ivan's religious fervor, the controversial treatment of the city's Orthodox and Jewish populations, and how the triumph sowed the seeds of later disaster. With vivid details…
Ivan's First Zemsky Sobor: The Assembly That Reshaped Russia
In 1549, barely two years after his coronation as the first Tsar of All Russia, Ivan IV convened an unprecedented gathering in the Uspensky Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. This was the first Zemsky Sobor, or 'Assembly of the Land', bringing together clergy, boyars, gentry, and townspeople in what became known as the Council of Reconciliation. Ivan blamed the boyar factions for the chaos of his childhood and called for national unity. The assembly paved the way for the Sudebnik of 1550 (a new…
The Building of Saint Basil's Cathedral: Russia's Icon of Triumph
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the story behind Moscow's most iconic building: Saint Basil's Cathedral. Built on Red Square between 1555 and 1561 to commemorate Ivan the Terrible's conquest of Kazan, the cathedral's colorful onion domes and unique architecture have fascinated visitors for centuries. They delve into the myths surrounding its architects—Postnik Yakovlev and Barma—and the legend that Ivan had them blinded to prevent them from replicating their masterpiece. Lucas separates…
Ivan the Terrible's Orphaned Childhood: The Boyar Terror That Shaped a Tyrant
Before he was Ivan the Terrible, he was a boy orphaned at eight, watching the boyars who ruled in his name tear each other apart. This episode takes us deep into the years between Vasili III's death in 1533 and Ivan's coronation in 1547 — a chaotic regency dominated by the Glinsky, Shuisky, and Belsky families. We explore the murder of Ivan's mother Elena Glinskaya (likely poisoned), the brutal power struggles that played out in the Kremlin corridors, and the formative trauma that would later…
Ivan the Terrible and Prince Kurbsky: The Letters That Defined Tyranny
In 1564, Prince Andrey Kurbsky, one of Ivan IV's most trusted commanders, defected to Lithuania and began a furious written exchange with the tsar. Their letters—eleven from Kurbsky, two from Ivan—are among the most remarkable political documents of the 16th century. Ivan defends autocracy as God-given; Kurbsky argues for the rights of the boyar class and accuses Ivan of bloodthirsty tyranny. This episode explores who Kurbsky was, why he fled, the ideological battle in their correspondence, and…
Ivan the Terrible and the Birth of Russian Printing
In 1564, Ivan the Terrible sponsored the first printing press in Moscow, run by deacon Ivan Fedorov and his partner Pyotr Mstislavets. Their first book, the 'Apostolos' (Acts of the Apostles), marked the beginning of Russian typography. But resistance from scribes and conservative clergy led to Fedorov fleeing to Lithuania and later Lviv, where he printed the first Cyrillic alphabet book. This episode explores Ivan's patronage of the press, the cultural clash between tradition and technology…
Ivan the Terrible's Chosen Council: Reform and Rupture
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's early reign, focusing on the 'Chosen Council' (Izbrannaya Rada) — a group of reformers including Alexei Adashev, priest Sylvester, and Prince Kurbsky. Between 1549 and 1560, they centralized the state, convened the first Zemsky Sobor, issued a new law code (the Sudebnik of 1550), reorganized local government through the guba system, and created the elite streltsy infantry. These reforms underpinned the conquest of Kazan (1552) and…
Ivan the Terrible and the English Queen
In this episode, we explore Ivan the Terrible's diplomatic overtures to England. From the arrival of Richard Chancellor in 1553 to the founding of the Muscovy Company, Ivan sought trade, military alliance, and even a marriage with Elizabeth I. We trace the correspondence between the two monarchs, Ivan's growing frustration with English evasions, and his eventual threat to withdraw privileges. This rarely discussed chapter reveals Ivan's ambition to position Russia as a European power and his…
Ivan the Terrible's Poisoned Fiancée: The Harrowing Tale of Maria of Kholm
In 1565, a devastating marriage negotiation between Ivan IV and Prince Magnus of Livonia ended in poisoning. When the tsar's chosen bride, Princess Maria of Kholm, arrived in Moscow for her wedding, she was found dead in her chamber, possibly poisoned by boyar rivals who feared a foreign alliance. This episode dives into the obscure but revealing story of Maria — a pawn in Ivan's diplomatic game who became a victim of his court's violence. We explore the tense Livonian War context, Ivan's plan…
Ivan the Terrible's Stoglav Council: Church, State & Reform
In 1551, Ivan IV convened the Stoglav Council, a landmark church council that produced a hundred-chapter code shaping Russian Orthodoxy for centuries. This episode explores how the young tsar, still in his reformist phase before the Oprichnina, worked with Metropolitan Macarius to standardize liturgy, root out pagan practices, regulate iconography, and assert state control over monastic lands. We examine the council's decisions on clerical discipline, the creation of a unified Russian saint…
Ivan the Terrible's Siberian Conquest: The Stroganov Expedition
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's role in the Russian conquest of Siberia, focusing on the Stroganov family's charter and Yermak Timofeyevich's 1581 campaign. They discuss the Khanate of Sibir, Kuchum Khan's rise, the battle on the Irtysh River, and the fall of Qashliq. Lucas explains how the Stroganovs, wealthy salt merchants, received a grant from Ivan to expand eastward, hiring Cossack mercenaries led by Yermak. The conversation covers the technological disparity…
Ivan the Terrible's Library: The Legend of the Lost Byzantine Treasure
Did Ivan the Terrible possess a legendary library of ancient Greek and Roman texts, hidden somewhere beneath the Moscow Kremlin? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the mystery of the so-called 'Liberea' — a collection of priceless manuscripts supposedly brought to Moscow by Sophia Paleologue, Ivan's Byzantine-born grandmother. We trace the origins of the legend to 16th-century chronicles and later accounts, including a 19th-century treasure hunter who spent years searching for it. Could…
Ivan the Terrible's Crimean Campaigns: Fire and Sword
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's decades-long struggle against the Crimean Khanate, a threat that shaped Russian foreign policy and military strategy. They discuss the devastating 1571 raid on Moscow by Devlet Giray, the battle of Molodi in 1572 where Russian forces repelled a massive Tatar invasion, and the construction of the Great Abatis Line, a system of fortifications stretching hundreds of miles. The conversation covers the role of the oprichnina in the war…
Ivan the Terrible's Secret Police: The Oprichniki Files
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the shadowy world of Ivan the Terrible's oprichniki—the tsar's personal secret police who terrorized Russia from 1565 to 1572. They explore the recruitment of these black-robed horsemen, their brutal oath of loyalty to Ivan alone, and the symbols of their power: the dog's head and broom tied to their saddles, signifying they would sniff out treason and sweep it away. The hosts reveal the social backgrounds of the oprichniki—many were low-born gentry…
Ivan the Terrible's Kazan Campaign: Conquest and Controversy
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into Ivan the Terrible's 1552 conquest of the Khanate of Kazan—the campaign that opened Russia's eastward expansion and secured his power. They explore the siege, the use of gunpowder and sappers, the building of Sviyazhsk as a forward base, and the controversial aftermath: massacres, the deportation of the Tatar nobility, and the forced conversion of Muslims. Lucas explains how Ivan framed the conquest as a holy war against Islam, using the recently created…
Ivan the Terrible's Novgorod Massacre: Truth and Legend
In 1570, Ivan the Terrible led his oprichniki on a brutal campaign against Novgorod, one of Russia's oldest and richest cities. This episode separates fact from fiction — examining the siege, the torture, the estimated death toll (was it 2,000 or 60,000?), and the political motives behind the purge. Lucas and Luna explore the Novgorod Chronicle's accounts, Ivan's paranoia over suspected treason, and the lasting trauma that helped cement his 'Terrible' reputation. They also discuss how this…
Ivan the Terrible's Tsardom: The 1556 Conquest of Astrakhan
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Ivan the Terrible's 1556 conquest of Astrakhan, a key moment in the expansion of the Tsardom of Muscovy. They discuss the strategic importance of the Astrakhan Khanate on the Volga delta, the bloodless surrender after a brief siege, and how Ivan installed a Russian governor while tolerating local customs and Islam. The conversation delves into the geopolitical context of the Volga trade route, the rivalry with the Crimean Khanate and Ottoman Empire, and…
Ivan the Terrible's Failed Siege of Pskov: The Legend
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the legendary Siege of Pskov in 1581–1582, where Polish-Lithuanian king Stefan Batory besieged the Russian city—and the Tsar didn't come to its rescue. They discuss the city's miraculous defense, the myth of the Pskov Cave Monastery icon, and the controversial peace treaty of Yam Zapolsky. Along the way, they examine how the siege became a symbol of Russian resilience and how Ivan IV's inaction revealed his deteriorating grip on power.…
Ivan the Terrible and Tsarevich Ivan: The Crime That Changed Russia
On November 19, 1581, in the private chambers of the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, Ivan the Terrible struck his son and heir Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich with a pointed staff. Within days, the tsarevich was dead. This episode examines the historical evidence behind that moment: the accounts of Antonio Possevino, the papal legate present at court; the testimony of the Pskov Chronicle; the political and psychological context of Ivan's fits of rage. We explore the tsarevich's role as a capable…
Ivan the Terrible and the Oprichnina's Brutal End
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the final, chaotic years of Ivan the Terrible's Oprichnina—the state-within-a-state that terrorized Russia for seven years. They focus on the 1571 Crimean invasion of Moscow, which exposed the oprichniki's military incompetence, and Ivan's subsequent reversal: the abolition of the Oprichnina in 1572 and the execution of its leaders, including the infamous Malyuta Skuratov (though he died in battle a year earlier). The conversation also covers Ivan's…
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